Turbine type hydraulic coupling



June 21, 1955 J, c, H 2,711,076

TURBINE TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING Original Filed Dec. 10, 1949 230 200 2421 248\ 241 216 k\\\ &\ \\k\\ INVENTOR. John C Sharp United StatesPatent TURBINE TYPE HYDRAULIC COUPLING John C. Sharp, Glen Ellyn, Ill.,assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Originalapplication December 10, 1949, Serial No. 132,287, new Patent No.2,648,212, dated August 11, 1953. Divided and this application October29, 1952, Serial No. 317,561

Claims. (CI. -54) The present invention relates to fluid drivemechanisms, and more particularly to such mechanisms especially adaptedfor use in clothes washing machines of the spin tub type. Thisapplication is a division of the copending application of John C. Sharp,Serial No. 132,287, filed December 10, 1949, now Patent No. 2,648,212,dated August 11, 1953.

The clothes washing machine disclosed in the Sharp application mentionedcomprises an upstanding casing, an upstanding tub arranged in the casingand mounted for rotation, and an upstanding agitator arranged in the tuband mounted for oscillation. A water supply system communicates with thetub, and a drain conduit communicates with the casing; water is suppliedfrom the system into the tub for washing and rinsing purposes, andexcess water that is supplied to the tub is overflowed therefrom andcaught in the casing. In order to effect extraction of the wash waterand the rinse water from the tub and the clothes contained therein, thetub is spun or rotated, whereby the water is centrifuged from the tuband the clothes contained therein and caught in the casing, the waterthat is caught in the casing being discharged therefrom via the drainconduit to the exterior. Further, the clothes washing machine comprisesan electric motor of the reversible type that is employed both tooscillate the agitator and to rotate the tub. More particularly, motiontranslating mechanism is directly driven by the electric motor in eitherdirection of rotation thereof, and the agitator is driven by the motiontranslating mechanism, rotary motion being translated into oscillatorymotion in the motion translating mechanism. Clutch mechanism is arrangedbetween the motion translating mechanism and the agitator so that theagitator may be selectively operated during washing and rinsingoperations as required in the operation of the machine.

Also a drain pump is directly driven by the electric motor in eitherdirection of rotation thereof and arranged to discharge the waterthrough the drain conduit to the exterior under pressure. Finally, afluid drive mechanism, embodying the features of the present invention,is directly driven by the electric motor in one direction of rotationthereof and arranged to drive the tub in order to accommodate slippagetherebetween in the rotation of the tub in the water extractingoperations. This arrangement of the fluid drive mechanism between theelectric motor and the tub not only insures smooth and gradualacceleration of the tub in response to rotation of the electric motor inthe one direction, but it also permitsthe tub to be rotated at alower-than-normal speed in the event of an abnormal unbalance of the tubduring a water extracting operation should the clothes in the tub becomebunched or otherwise unevenly distributed therein.

As disclosed hereinafter, the fluid drive mechanism, embodying thefeatures of the present invention, is so constructed and arranged thatit is automatically clutched to effect a drive between the electricmotor and the tub when the electric motor is rotated in the onedirection 2,711,076 Patented June 21, 1955 "ice for the spin purpose,and is automatically declutched to interrupt the drive between theelectric motor and the tub when the electric motor is rotated in theopposite direction for the washing purpose. Thus, it will be understoodthat in the clothes washing machine of the Sharp application mentionedselective washing and water extracting operations may be carried outupon the clothes in the tub fundamentally by controlling the directionof rotation of the reversible electric motor.

Accordingly, it is the general object of the present invention toprovide an improved fluid drive mechanism that is expressly adapted foruse in a clothes washing machine of the character described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fluid drivemechanism that is direction-responsive.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid drive mechanismthat incorporates an improved selectively operative startingarrangement.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a fluid drivemechanism an improved direction-responsive starting arrangement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a fluid drivemechanism of improved and simplified construction and arrangement.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangementof the elements of the fluid drivemechanism, whereby the above-outlinedand additional operating features thereof are attained. p

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following specification taken inconnection with accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a verticalsectional view of a fluid drive mechanism embodying the present 7invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the fluiddrive mechanism shown in Fig. 1, this view being taken in the directionof the arrows along the line 22 therein;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the fluiddrive mechanism embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the fluiddrive mechanism shown in Fig. 3, this view being taken in the directionsof the arrows along the line 44 therein.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the draw n the fluid drive mechanismthere illustrated and embodying the features of the present invention isoperatively associated with an electric drive motor 101 of thereversible rotor type provided with an operating or drive shaft 102. Themotor 101 is mounted upon a frame 103 by an arrangement including aplurality of bolts 104 so that the drive shaft 102 occupies asubstantially vertical position. The drive shaft 102 extends Well abovethe upper end of the motor 101 and the frame 103 ,and has rigidlysecured thereto a fixture 105 that is arranged to provide two V-beltpulleys 106 and 107 respectively carrying two V-belts 108 and 109. Thefixture 105 is rigidly secured to the drive shaft 102 by an arrangementincluding a set screw 110 disposed in a threaded opening provided in asleeve 111 carried on the lower end thereof, the upper end of thefixture 105 carries a sleeve 112 that terminates in an outwardlyextending annular flange 113.

The fluid drive mechanism 100 is mounted upon the extreme upper end ofthe drive shaft 102 and upon the flange 113 and comprises a hollowcasing 114 including lower and upper sections 115 and 116 hermeticallysealed together. The lower portion of the casing 115 provides a V-beltpulley-117 that receives an associated V-belt 118. The hollow uppercasing section 116 provides a substantially annular chamber 119 therein;and a substantially annular head 120 is arranged within the chamber 1119and rigidly secured to the extreme upper end of the drive shaft 102 byan arrangement including a threaded connection 121. The lower casingsection 115 has a substantially centrally disposed opening thereininterior surface of the opening provided in the sleeve 1;

122. A recess is formed in the lower portion of the lower casing section115 within the pulley 117 and receives and anti-friction bearing elementprovided with upper and lower races 126 and 127. The lower race 127 isdirectly supported upon the adjacent upper surface of the flange 113provided on the fixture 105, and the upper race 126 engages the lowerend of the lower casing section 115, as well as the lower end of thebearing sleeve 124, the races 126 and 127 being supported inspaced-apart relation by a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apartballs 128. A centrally disposed recess is provided in the upper portionof the head 120, and a disk 129 is frictionally secured therein.Further, a centrally disposed threaded opening is provided in the upperportion of the upper casing receives a threaded member 1311 positionedabove the disk 129, a thrust ball 131 being arranged between the lowerend of the threaded member and the disk 129. The lower bearingarrangement, including the balls 128, and the upper bearing arrangement,including the ball 131, positively locates the casing 114 with respectto the head 120 and permit free rotation of the drive shaft 102 and thehead 120 in the chamber 119 independently of the casing 114.

Further, a substantially centrally disposed annular reservoir 132 isformed in the lower casing section 115 below the head 120 andsurrounding the sleeve 122, which reservoir 132 contains a quantity orbody or" fluid 133, such, for example, as a quantity of light oil orother hydraulic medium. The upper level of the body of fluid 133 isdisposed slightly below the junction between the lower and upper casingsections 115 and 116 so that the head 120 is disposed above and normallyentirely out of contact with the body of fluid 133 arranged in thereservoir 132. a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart main drivenblades 134 disposed exterior-1y of the reservoir 132 and communicatingtherewith; and likewise the head 120 carries a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart main drive blades 135 disposed above andexteriorly of the reservoir 132 and cooperating with the main drivenblades 134. Thus the drive blades 135 carried by the head 120 aredisposed above and out of contact with the driven blades 134 carried bythe lower casing section 115, a narrow annular space 136 being providedbetween the sets of main blades 134 and 135. The arrangement describedabove permits free rotation of the head 120 and the drive blades 135carried thereby with respect to the lower casing section 115 and thedriven blades 134 carried thereby.

Finally, the fluid drive mechanism 100 comprises a direction-responsivestarting arrangement including two substantially diametricallypositioned start devices 140 carried by the head 120 above and adjacentto the body of fluid 133 disposed in the reservoir 132. Preferably, thedevices 140 are identical, each comprising a fixture 141 provided with abody secured directly to the adjacent surface of the head 120 by a pairof screws 142, and a pair of spaced-apart depending arms 143 carrying apivotally mounted start blade 144. The desection 116 and 4 The lowercasing section 115 carries til vice 140 is disposed in an offsetposition with respect to the center line of the drive shaft 102 and thecenter of the head 120; and the start blade 144 carries a dependingcounterbalance or weight 145 on the rear end thereof, the front end ofthe start blade 144 normally being disposed somewhat above the level ofthe body of fluid 133 provided in the reservoir 132. Specifically, thestart blade 144 is pivoted intermediate the ends thereof upon a pair ofoppositely directed trunnions 146 supported in cooperating bearingopenings 147 provided in the arms 143 of the fixture 141. Thus when thedrive shaft 102 is at rest, the start blade 144 occupies a substantiallytorizontal position, the counterbalance 145 pivoting the start blade 144to the position noted about the trunnions 146 in order to insure thatthe front end of the start blade 144 is out of contact with the body offluid 133 provided in the reservoir 132.

Considering now the operation of the fluid drive mcchanism 100, whenrotation of the drive shaft 102 is initiated in the counterclockwisedirection, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 100, the head 120moves toward the right in Fig. 2, and the impulse that is transmittedfrom the head 120 through the fixture 141 and the trunnions 146 to thestart blade 144 causes the start blade 144 to be pivoted in theclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. This pivotal movement of thestart blade 144 is brought about primarily by the inertia of 1 theWeight 145, the center of gravity of the weight 145 being disposed belowthe trunnions 146. When the start blade 144 is thus pivoted in theclockwise direction, as

viewed in Fig. 2, the front end thereof dips into the body of fluid 133provided in the reservoir 132, whereby the start blade 144 is pivotedfurther in the clockwise direc= tion into a substantially verticalposition about the trunnions 146, as indicated by the dotted lines inFig. 2. The start blade 144 is restrained, when it is at rest, in itssubstantially horizontal normal position by a step 148 extending betweenthe arms 143 of the fixture 141;

and the start blade 144 is restrained, when it is moved in thecounterclockwise direction, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 100,into its substantially vertical op tively to insure that the fluidcontained in the reservoir 132 is directed outwardly, as describedabove, each of the start devices 140 is mounted at a slight angle withrespect to a radius of the head 120 extending to the center line of thedrive shaft 102. When the fluid contained in the reservoir 132 is thusdirected into the space 136 and between the blades 135 and 134, thedrive blades 135 exert a torque upon the driven blades 134, wherebyrotation of the casing 114 is initiated. When rotationof the casing 114is thus initiated the fluid contained in the reservoir 132 is flungoutwardly by the centrifugal force into the space 136, thereby furtherinsuring the drive relationship between the blades 135 and 134.Accordingly the casing 114 is gradually accelerated and ultimatelyrotates at a speed somewhat below that of the head 120 in view of thefact that there is always some slippage between the blades 135 and 134.Accordingly, when rotation of the drive shaft 102 is initiated in thecounterclockwise direction, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 100,rotation of the casing 114, and consequently the pulley 11'! carriedthereby, is initiated, whereby rotation of the pulley 117 is graduallyaccelerated to a speed somewhat belowthat of the head 120 carried by thedrive shaft 102.

Subsequently when operation of the motor 101 is ar:

When the start blade 144 thus oc- 100 stops shortly thereafter by virtueof the connected loads upon the pulleys 106, 107 and 117, in an obviousmanner; whereby thestart blades 144 of the start devices 140 arereturned to their normal positions by the weights 145 I 7 On the otherhand, when rotation ofthedriveishaft 102 is initiated in the clockwisedirection, 'as viewed from the top of the mechanism 100, the head 120moves toward the left in Fig. 2, and the impulsezthat is transmittedthrough the arms 143 of the fixture 141- and the trunnions 146 to thestart blade 144 is such that the weight 145 tends to pivotthe startblade144. furtherin the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in. Fig. 2.

However, further pivotal movementof the startwblade I 144 in thecounterclockwise'directionis. prevented bythe stop 148 carried by thearms 143 ,ofthe'fixture 141, whereby the start blade 144 remains initsnormal .position. Accordingly, when. rotation of the-drive shaft..'102is initiated in the clockwise direction, -as.viewed,from the top of themechanism 100, the start blades 144 of the start devices 140 remain intheir normal positions,=whereby the body of fluid .133 contained-inthe-reservoir 132 is not disturbed and consequentlyth firiveblades 1135'are rotated freely with respect to thefdriven blades:13'4 and rotationof the'head 120 is not transmitted to.;the casing 114. w I 1- In view ofthe foregoing description of..the,mode of! operation of themechanism2100, it will :be'understo'od that it is direction-responsiveand that=jpower ;is transmitted from the motor 101 :to the pulley 117carried by the casing 114 only in the eventthe drive; shaft 102 isrotated inthe counterclockwise:direction,ggaswiewed from the top of themechanism 100. Accordingly,- it will be appreciated that the load thatis connected-to the pulley 117 carried by the casing 11 4 maybe;;selectively rotated through the V-belt 118 dependent uponv thedirection of rotation of the drive shaft 102., ;.On.the. other hand,sincethe fixture 105 is rigijdly'secured-to the drive shaft 102, thepulleys 106.and;;-107' driveqthe connected loads throughthe respective;,V-belts 108 :and 109 when the drive shaft 102 is rotated in eitherdirec-. tron. r Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the modified-form of thefluid drive mechanism 200 thereillustrated and embodying the features ofthe present-inventionis opera.- tively associated with an electricdrive-motor 201 of the reversible rotor type provided with an operatingor drive shaft 202. The motor 201 is mounted upon a frame 203 by anarrangement including a plurality of bolts 204 so that the drive shaft202 occupies a substantially vertical position. The drive shaft. 202exteirds-wllabove the upper end of the motor 201 andithe frame 203 andhas rigidly secured thereto a fixture 205 that is'xarran'ged to: providetwo V-belt'pulleys 206 and 207 respectively carrying two V-belts 208 and209. The fixture 205 is rigidly secured to the drive shaft 202 by anarrangement inciuding a set screw 210.- arranged in a'threadedopeningprovided in a sleeve 211 carried on the lower end thereof. Theupper end ofthe fixture 205t carries asleeve 212 that terminates in anoutwardly extending annular flange 213. The fluid drive mechanism 200 ismounted'upon the extreme upperend of the drive shaft 202-and upon the"flange 213 and comprises component elements 214 to 236, inclusive,respectivelycorresponding to the'elements 114' to 136, inclusive, ofthefluid-drive mechani'si'n 100 de scribed above, which elements 214to'2-36, inclusive, are

not again enumerated in the interest of bre'vity.-; "1;

Finally, the fluid drive mechanism 200 comprises a 6 directionresponsive starting arrangement including two substantiallydiametrically positioned start devices 240 of fmodified construction andarrangement and carried by therheada220 above and adjacent to the bodyof fluid 233 disposed inthe reservoir 232.

Preferably the devices 240 are identical, each com prising a fixture 241provided with a body secured directly to the adjacent surface of thehead 220 by a pair of 'screws 242, and a pair of spaced-apart dependingarms 243 carrying a pivotally mounted start blade 244,. The device 240is disposed .inan oifset position with respect to the center line of thedrive shaft 202 and the center of the head 220, and the start blade 244carries a small de pending counterbalance or weight 245 on the rear endthereof,fthe. front end of the start blade 244 normally being projectedinto the body of fluid 233 provided in the reservoir 232. Specifically,the start blade 244 is pivoted intermediate the ends'thereof upon a pairof oppositely directed trunnions 246 supported in cooperating bearingopenings 247 provided in the arms 243 of the fixture 241. Thus when thedrive shaft 202 is at rest the start blade 244 occupies a substantialvertical normal position, the counterbalance 245 permitting the startblade 244 to pivot. torlthe' position noted; about the trunnions 246 inorder to insure that the front end of the start blade 244 is immersedin'the body of fluid 233 provided in the reservoir232. Y

:yrConsidering' now the operation. of the fluid drive mechanism 200,when rotation of the drive shaft 202 is initiated in thecounterclockwise direction, as viewed fromthe" top ofthe mechanism 200,the head 220 moves toward theright in: Fig. 4,-and the impulse that istransmitted from'the head 220 through the fixture 241 and the trunnions246 to'thestart' blade 244 causes the start blade 244 to exert a forceupon the fluid contained in the reservoir 232' ten'ding' to rotate thestart blade 244 in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4.However, further pivotal moverent of the start blade 244 in theclockwise direction fromlits substantially. vertical normal position isprevented 'by'a stop 248 depending from the body of the fixture 241'.When t'he'start blade 244 thus occupies its substantiallyvertical normalposition and is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, as viewedfrom the top of the mechanism 200, the front end thereof catches thefluid contained in the reservoir-232 and splashes or deflects itoutwardlyaway from thecenter line of the rotating drive shaft'202 andinto the drive blades 235 and the space 236 disposed between the driveblades 235 and the driven blades 234. In order posjitively to insurethat the fluid containedin' the reservoir 232 is directed outwardly, asdescribed above, each of the start devices 240 is mounted ataslightangle with respect to a radius of the head 220 extending to the centerline of the drive shaft 202. When the fluid contained in the reservoir232 is thus directed into the space 236 and between the blades 235 and234, the drive blades 235 exert a torque upon the driven blades 234,whereby rotation of the casing 214 is initiated. When rotation of thecasing 214 is thus initiated the fluid contained inthe reservoir 232 isflung outwardly by the centrifugal forceinto the space 236, therebyfurther insuring the drive relationship between the blades 235 and 234.Accordingly, the casing 214 is gradually accelerated and ultimatelyrotates at a speed somewhat below that of the head 220 in view of thefact that there is always some slippage between the blades 235 and 234..

Accordingly when rotation of the drive shaft 202 is initiated in thecounterclockwise direction, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 200,rotation of the casing 214 and consequently the pulley 217 carriedthereby is initiated, whereby rotation of the pulley 217 is graduallyaccelerated-to a speed somewhat below that of the. head 220 carried bythedrive shaft 202.

:Su'bsequently when operation of the motor 201 is arrested, rotation ofthe drive shaft 202 in the counterclockwise direction, as' viewed fromthe top of the mechanism 290, is gradually decelerated, whereby thefluid contained within the casing 214 ultimately falls back by theaction of gravity into the reservoir 232, 'When operation of the motor201 is thus arrested, rotation of the mechanism 260 stops shortlythereafter by virtue" of the connected loads upon the pulleys 206, 207and 217, in an obvious manner, whereby the start blades 244 of thestartdevices 24%) are retained in their normal positions due to the fact thatin each start blade 244 the center of gravity is disposed in the frontend thereof.

On the other hand, when rotation of the drive shaft 202 is initiated inthe clockwise direction, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 299,the head 220 moves toward the left in Fig. 4, and the impulse that istransmitted through the arms 243 of the fixture 241 and the trunnions246 to the start blade 244, causes the front end of the start blade 244to drag out of the body of fluid 233 contained in the reservoir 23 2,whereby the start blade 244 is pivoted in the counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 4, into its operated position indicated bythe dotted lines. Further, the impulse that is transmitted to the startblade 244 in this case also assists in the pivotal movement of the startblade 244 from is substantially vertical normal position to its inclinedoperated position. When the start blade 244 is thus operated into itsinclined operated position thefront end thereof is disposed somewhatabove the level of the body of fluid 233 disposed in the reservoir 232and out of contact therewith. Accordingly, when rotation of the driveshaft 202 is initiated in the clockwise direc:

tion, as viewed from the top of the mechanism 200, the start blades 244of the start devices 240 are immediately pivoted from their normalpositions into their operated positions, whereby the body of fluid 233contained in the reservoir 232 is not substantially disturbed andconsequently the drive blades 235 are rotated freelywith respect to, thedriven blades 234 and rotation of .the' head 220 is not transmitted tothe casing 214.

In view of the foregoing description of the mode of operation of themechanism 200, it will be understood that it is direction-responsive andthat power is transmitted from the motor 201 to the pulley 217 carriedby the lower casing section 215 only in the event the drive shaft 292 isrotated in the counterclockwise direction, as

viewed from the top of the mechanism200. Accordingly, it will beappreciated that the load that is connected to the pulley 217 carried bythe lower casing section 215 may be selectively rotated. through the'V-belt 218 dependent upon the direction of rotation of the drive shaft232. On the other hand, since the fixture 205 is rigidly secured to thedrive shaft 202, the pulleys 206 and 2W7 drive the connected loadsthrough the respective V-belts 2&8 and 209 when the drive shaft 202 isrotated in either direction. I

In view of the foregoing description of. the fluid drive mechanisms 1%and 200, it will be understood that.

either of these embodiments may be ,employedas the fluid drive mechanismin the clothes washing machine disclosed in the Sharp applicationmentioned.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided adirection-responsive fluid drive mechanism of improved and simplifiedconstruction and arrangement.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be thepreferred embodiment of invention, it will be understood that variousmodifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in theappended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing having a substantiallycentrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation abouta substantially vertical axis, a drive shaft extending through saidopening into said casing and mounted for rotation aboutsaid'substantially vertical axis independently of said" casing,'structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lowerportion of said casing out of contact with said drive shaft, a headrigidly secured to said drive shaft within said casing and above saidreservoir, a plu-.

rality of annularly disposed drive blades carried'by said headexteriorlyof said reservoir, a plurality of. annularly disposed driven-bladescarried by said casing exteriorly of said reservoir, said drive'bladesbeing disposed in co? operatin relation with said driven blades andspaced thereabove a short distance, a body of fluid arranged in said.reservoir and normally disposed below and out of contact withsaiddrive-blades to permit free rotation of said drive blades with respectto said driven blades,- a startblade carried by'said head adjacent tosaid reservoir.

and movable between two positions with respect to said body of fluid,said startblade beingrespectively with drawn from andprojeoted into saidbody of fluid in its two corresponding positions, saidstart blade in itsposition projected into said body of fluid deflecting the fluid fromsaid reservoir into the spacebetween said drive blades and said drivenblades causing said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluidupon said driven blades in response to rotation of s'aid drive shaft soas l to efiect rotation of said casing, and control mechanism forselectively moving said start blade between its two positions.

blade betweenits twoposition's.

3. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing hav.-

' ing a substantially centrally disposed opening formed in.

the bottom thereof and mounted for rotation about a sub-' stantiallyvertical axis, a drive shaft having an upper end extending through saidopening into said casingand: mounted fol-rotation aboutsaidsubstantially vertical zutisindependentlyof said casing, structuredefining a sub? stantially annular reservoir in the lower portion ofsaid casing surrounding said drive shaft and out of contact therewith, ahead secured to the upper end of said drive shaft within said casing andabove said reservoir, a plu-j rality of annula'rly disposed drive bladescarried by said head exteriorly ofsaid reservoir, a plurality ofannularly disposed driven blades carried by said casing exterio'rly ofsand reservoir, said drive blades being disposed inco operating relationwith said driven blades and spaced hereabove a short distance, a body offluid arranged in said reservoir-andnormally disposedbelow and out ofcontact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of" i saiddrive'blades with respect to said driven blades, a start blade carriedby said head adjacent to said reservoir and movable between twopositions with respect to said body'of fluid, said start blade beingrespectively Withdrawn from and projected into said body of fluid in itstwo corr responding positions, said start blade in its positionprojected into said body of fluid deflecting the fluid from saidreservoir into the space between said drive blades and said drivenblades causing said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluidupon said driven blades in response to rotation of said drive shaft soas to eflect rotation of said casing, control mechanism for selectivelymoving said start blade between its'two positions,-a pulley carried bysaid casing, and bearing structure arranged between said casing and saiddrive shaft.

4. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing hav lowerportion of saidcasing out of contact with said said reservoir and normally disposedbelow and out ofc'o etact with said drive blades to p'ermitfreerotationofz'saiddrive blades with respect to said driven blades, a pair ofsubstantially diametrically opposed start blades carried by said headadjacent to said reservoir, eachfof said start blades being movablebetweentwo positions with respect I to said body of fluid, each of saids ta -blades' beipg.respectively withdrawn from and projectedinto saidbody'of fluid in its two corresponding positions, each of said startblades in its position projected into said body of fluid deflecting thefluid from said reservoir into the space between said drive blades andsaid driven blades causing said drive blades to exert a torque throughthe fluid upon said driven blades in response to rotation of said driveshaft so as to effect rotation of said casing, and control mechanism forsimultaneously and selectively moving said start blades between theirtwo positions.

5. The fluid drive mechanism set forth in claim 1,

wherein said drive shaft is mounted for rotation in either directionabout said substantially vertical axis and said control mechanismincludes an'inertia part selectively responsive to rotation of saiddrive shaft in a given direction for moving said start blade into itsposition projected into said body of fluid.

6. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing having a substantiallycentrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation abouta substantially vertical axis, a drive shaft extending through saidopening into said casing and mounted for rotation in either directionabout said substantially vertical axis independently of said casing,structure defining a substantially annular reser voir in the lowerportion of said casing out of contact with said drive shaft, a headrigidly secured to said drive shaft within said casing and above saidreservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried bysaid head exteriorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed driven blades carried by said casing exteriorly of said reservoir,said drive blades being disposed in cooperating relation with saiddriven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a body of fluidarranged in said reservoir and normally disposed below and out ofcontact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said driveblades with respect to said driven blades,,a start blade carried by saidhead and mounted for movements between an operated position withdrawnfrom said body of fluid and a normal position projected into said bodyof fluid, said start blade in its normal position defleeting the fluidfrom said reservoir into the space between said drive blades and saiddriven blades causing said drive blades to exert a torque through thefluid upon said driven blades in response to rotation of said driveshaft so as to effect rotation of said casing, and means selectivelyresponsive to rotation of said drive shaft in a given direction formoving said start blade from its normal position into its operatedposition.

7. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing having a substantiallycentrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation abouta substantially ver' tical axis, a drive shaft extending through saidopening into said casing and mounted for rotation in either directionabout said substantially vertical axis independently of said casing,structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lowerportion of said casing out of contact with said drive shaft, a headrigidly secured to said drive shaft within said casing and above saidreservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried bysaid head exteriorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularlydisposeddriven blades carriedxb'y said casing exteriorly of saidreservoinzsaidirdrive blades being .disposedin coopcrating";relation'zwith'said driven bladesand spacedthereaboveianshorn-distance,ma body of fluid arrangedin saidrese'rvoinand normallyqdisposedbelow and outof contactatwithsaid-driveblades to permit-free rotation of said drive-:bladeswithrespect to. said driven blades, a start bladcrcarried bysaid headadjacent to said reservoir and mounted, intermediate -theends thereof;for pivotal movements hetween twot positions, oneend of said start bladebeing respectively withdrawn from andprojected into said v yiq tfl liwhl a iaI -=b1? 1"- p y up s 1 s d body; of fluid deflecting the fluiclfrom saidre'serdriven blades causing said drive blades to exert a torquethrough the fluid upon said driven blades in response to rotation ofsaid drive shaft so asto effect rotation of said casing, and meansincluding a weight carried by the other end of said start blade andselectively responsive to rotation of said drive shaft in a givendirection for pivoting said start blade from one of its positions intothe other of its positions.

8. The fluid drive mechanism set forth in claim 1, wherein saiddrive-shaft is mounted for rotation in either direction about saidsubstantially vertical axis and said control mechanism includes a fluiddrag part selectively responsive to rotation of said drive shaft in apredetermined direction for moving said start. blade into its positionwithdrawn from said body of fluid.

9. A fluid drive comprising a casing having a substantially centrallydisposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation about asubstantially vertical axis, a drive shaft extending through saidopening into said casing and mounted for rotation in either directionabout said substantially vertical axle independently of said casing,structure defining a substantially annular reservoir in the lowerportion of said casing out of contact with said drive shaft, a headrigidly secured to said drive shaft within said casing and above saidreservoir, a plurality of annularly disposed drive blades carried bysaid head exteriorly of said reservoir, a plurality of annularlydisposed driven blades carried by said casing exteriorly of saidreservoir, said ,drive blades being disposed in cooperating relationwith said driven blades and spaced thereabove a short distance, a bodyof fluid arranged in said reservoir and normally disposed below and outof contact with said drive blades to permit free rotation of said driveblades with respect to said driven blades, a start blade carried by saidhead and mounted for movements between a normal position projected intosaid body of fluid and an operated position withdrawn from said body offluid, said start blade in its normal position deflecting the fluid fromsaid reservoir into the space between said drive blades and said drivenblades causing said drive blades to exert a torque through the fluidupon said driven blades in response to rotation of said drive shaft soas to effect rotation of said casing, means selectively responsive torotationof said drive shaft in a predetermined direction for moving saidstart blade from its normal position into its operated position.

10. A fluid drive mechanism comprising a casing having a substantiallycentrally disposed opening formed therein and mounted for rotation abouta substantially vertical axis, a drive shaft extending through saidopening into said casing and mounted for rotation in either directionabout said substantially vertical axis independently of said casing,structure defining a substantially annular res- )vopqsitions, said oneend fsaidstart blade projected o the space between said drive blades andsaid 1 1 erating relation with said driven blades atid spaced there:above a short distanee,-a'body of-fluidarrahged-in said reservoir andriormallydisposed below andoiitfot contact with said drive'bla'des topermit free rotation'oflsaid drive blades with respect to said driven 5blades, a start blade carried by said head adjacent to said reservoirandmounb ed intermediate the ends thereof for pivotal movement's between anormal position and an operated positiongon end of said start bladebeing respectively projec ted itito and Withdrawn frorn said body offluid when said-"start blade respectively occupie's its no'rmalandoperated 'po'si tions, said oneend of said startb1ade projected intobody of fluid deflecting the fluid'f ronrsaid reservoir ihtd the spacebetween said drive blades andsaiddi'iveh bladeS causing said driveblades to exert a torquetlnidupea-said driven-blades in response torotation ofsaid drive' 'shaft-lsoas to effect rotation of said casing,and

means ineluding a stop carried by said head and'cooperatingawith' theother end of said start blade for restraining said start blade in itsnormal position when said drive shaftiis rotated in a' given direction,said start blade being I pivoted from it"snormal position into itsoperated posif tion by the drag between said one end 'of said startblade i i andsaid body of fiuid in response to rotation of said driveshaft in the opposite direction. a

